Match box filling machine



A. F. NEY

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 MATCH BOX FILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25. 1926 March 22 192T 192 7 A. F. NEY

MATCH BOX FILLING MACHINE March 22 Filed Jan. 25, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 22, 1927 I 1,621,948

A. F. NEY

MATCH BOX F'ILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1926 5 Sheets-$1961. 4

may 10.; 'I I m 19 27 A. F. NEY

MLTCH BOX FILLING MACHINE March 22 Filed Jan. 25, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 1 (till Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

untrue sra'rus ANDREW FRANCIS NEY, or East new, .eUsTIanLIA, Assienon ronnynnrnirn MAY PROPRIETARY LIMITED, or emissions, AUSTRALIA.

MATCH-BOX-FILLING IVIAJGI-IINE.

Ap'plica'tion filed January 25, 1926, Serial No. eases, and in Australia March a, 1. 525".

The present invention refers to machines for filling rectangular match boxes consisting of an inner slide and an outer casing open at both ends, in which machines a horizontal endless conveyor is employed for the" boxes Whiclr conveyor is made up of: links having double pockets or a pair of iaremmmunicafing pockets for the inner and outer box members.

According to the most usual type of filling maclrine used two main continuously operating chain conveyors are employed as well as other chains and one conveyor operate's to-transfer the matches delivered from the Wide belt of the clipping machine to the inners of the boxes carried by the other chain conveyor. This type of machine has several disabilities and in particular it is complicated so that if a break down occurs considerable time is lost in opening up the machine to get at the part out of order. The machine which is expensive in first cost requires several operators for its control. Moreover, owing to the irregularity in the number of matches delivered into each box, frequent) jambing of the boxes occurs in the conveyor setting up destruction of boxes and matches and stoppages of the machine. Furthermore owing to the boxes being insufficiently filled HlZLtCliGS must be added by hand and as the boxes are continuously travelling this operation involves a high degieeofdex'terity on the part of an operator.

The present invention has been devised to produce an improved machine employing only a single interinittingly operated chain conveyor, the advantages in comparison with known machines being reduction in costof manufacture, fewer operatives necessary to control machine, less damage and Waste as regards boxes and matches, more uniformquantities of matches in the boxes and facility for quickly effecting repairs or adjustment's- Furthermore the machine is particularly adapted to Work in close conjunction with any We'll known type of match setting and dipping machine.

According to this invention all operations are intermittent i. e., there is a period of rest between the various a ti ons'ofthe machine.

Briefly stated, the improved machine effects the operations, and in the sequence, as follows vizz ta) The empty boxes are" advanced by a horizontal belt preferably in triple rows and fed, three at a ti n'e, down a stepped feeder and delivered into the pockets of the intermittingly operated and horizontally dis posed chain conveyor;

(6) The inners of the boxes are then pushed practically out of the enters, means being provided to square b'ulgingcorners of the inners and to prevent total Withdrawal of the inner. I

(0') The inn'ers aresupplied with matches delivered interruptedly'fi'om a chute of pecial construction locatedbet'weeri the chain conveyor and the belt of the match setting and dipping machine, and designed to ensure approximately the correct number of matches being delivered to each be: and to ensure a steady and regular flow of the matches,

(id) The inners are then partly pushed into" the outers While at thesainetime the matches are flattened down and when the boxes have been further advanced the inner's are completely inserted in the ou'te'rsf- ('6) lhe filled boxes, three at atirne, are then pushed out of the pocketsin front or plunger that forms a row of twelve.

f) The row is then advanced along a plate While simultaneously the row aheadyiel'dingly held down by spring lingers, is

discharged upon an inclined tray detachably supported on an inclined conveyor; said tray being preferably of such a site as to hold for instance 288 boxes and when loaded is removed to the usual packing machine. v

The illustrations of the invention comprise,

Figure 1, a plan, and Figure 2, an elevation of the first portion of the machine being the empty box receivin end. p i

higures 3 and 4, Figures 5 and 6, and Fig} ure's 7 and 8', are corresponding plans and elevations respectively of the remaining portions of the machine in progressive order from said receiving end" as will be seenby registering in these figures the division lines A, B, and C, when a complete plan of the machine is illustrated, and likewise a complete' elevation by registering the division lines A, B, C. I Figure 9,. a section on line PX ot'Fig ure 1" Figure 10, a section on line X of Figure 1.

Figure 11 an enlarged plan of a link in the conveyor.

Figure 12 a section on line XII of Figure 11, and

Figure 13 an end view of the link- Figure 1a a section on line XIV of Figure 3.

Figure 14 an enlarged fragmentary detail in section through part of Figure 11-.

Figure 15 a section on line XV of F igure 5.

Figure 16 is an enlarged transverse section through the conveyor on line XVI of Figure 5.

Figure 17 being enlarged section on line XVII of Figure '7.

Figure 18 is a section on line XVIII of Figure 7,. and

Figure 19 a section on line XIX of Figure 7.

Figs. 20 and 21 are enlarged vertical. and horizontal sections respectively of the conveyor showing means for tilting the inners when withdrawn from the outers.

As illustrated, the closed empty boxes B are delivered upon a horizontal endless belt 1, intermittingly moved by pawl and catehet gear 2, and above the belt longitudinal partitions 3 are fixed which divide the boxes into rows, preferably three, the

boxes being pressed flat on the belt by the weight of the freely rotatable rollers t mounted on arms 5.

The boxes move ofi" the end of the belt upon a fixed horizontal plate 6 and in front of said plate at a lower level is a suitably guided slide or feeder 7, Figure 9, reciprocated horizontally on a base 16 by an arm 8, controlled by cam 158 on cam shaft 145. The upper surface of said feeder is formed with steps 9 the bases or treads 10 of which are preferably backwardly inclined as shown except the last one 10 which is horizontal. Furthermore the partitions 3 extend over said steps. The advance boxes are pushed off the plate 6 by the boxes behind the same on the belt 1 and successively dropped on the first inclined tread 10 of the feeder, the steps 9 preventing any backward movementof the boxes. The latter are also kept down flat on the treads by a series of spring fingers 11 and 12 mounted on a cross plate 180 on brackets 181 on the feeder 7. Springs 12 are curved and bear against the underside of a cross rod 14 supported in stationary brackets 15 and bear firmly on three of the boxes in a row as the feeder advances (see Figure 1).

n the backward movement of the feeder 7, the boxes thereon are prevented from backward movement by reason of the rearmost three bearing against the plate 6 and as the front tread 1O passes backwardly from underneath the advanced three boxes the latter drop on the base 16 in front of thefeeder 7 which when again advancing pushes said boxes into the adjacent pockets 17 of the main chain conveyor (1 which travels intermittingly over vertical pulleys 182, 188, Figures 2 and 8, and is guided in channel 178 (see Figure 10).

Each pocket 17 has a flared mouth 17"", and connects with another pocket 18 alongside in each link of the conveyor Figures 11, 12, 13, 16 and 17, and pocket 17 is slightly wider than pocket 18 so that the ends of the outers 2O bear against the shoulders 19. The top edges 184: of the sides of pocket 18 are inclined inwardly to direct the matches into the inners 21 and said sides are formed with overhanging or inwardly projecting inclined ledges 22 that l'n'event the inners rising. The sides of the pockets 18 are formed near the bottom at their inner edges with flared or tapered notches or grooves 23, Figs. 11, 12, 20 and 21, that compress the lower corners of the inners 21. that may be bulging and so form said corners rectangular. The result of this construction is that said inners will subsequently be replaced in the outers of the box without crushing of same which, when it occurs, causes jambs and necessitates loss of time by stoppage of the machine and irregular discharge-of filled boxes.

The pockets 18 that receive the inners are formed with bottom ledges 18 Figs. 12, 16, 17, 20 and 21 inclined parallel to ledges 22 so that when the inners 21 are pushed out of the outers 20 by plungers 1419 operated by arm 150 and cam 159 they are fully open, as in Figures 1, 2, 10 and 20, to receive the matches, but the inner ends of the inners 21 are still within the outers 20 so that said inners will subsequently advance with certainty into said outers. T he inclination of the ledges 1S and 22 cause the inners, when being withdrawn from the outers, to tilt automatically so that while the lower corners remain in the outers, as a guide for the return movement of tlhe innors. the upper corresponding edges of the inners are clear of the upper corresponding edges of the outers so that there is no obstruction to the entry of the matches into the inners. The pockets 18 are formed in the bottom with transverse recesses 24 which are engaged by a fork 25, Figures 1 and 2, on an arm 26 connected to an oscillating vertically disposed arm 27, that moves the conveyor (.1 intermittingly.

A cover plate 166 overlies the boxes to ensure same being truly seated in the pockets 17, said plate being bent upwardly at the front end 161 and connected to arms 162 controlled by springs 163 and fixed to a loosely mounted rod 164.

In order to ensure the conveyor pockets being in correct registration for the various operating mechanism of the machine, a se- -way with a step 33.

ries of fingers 28, formed with bevel points 29 advance periodically into the bottom recesses 24 in the pockets, said fingers being mounted on a vertically disposed reciproeating arm 30 which carries a roller 157 engaging theperiphery of double cam 15S, Figures 2 and 9.

The boxes pass intermittiugly in front of the matclr transferring means, Figures 3, 4 and 14, located between the conveyor C and the belt 31 of the n'iatch setting and dipping machine.

This transferring means comprising an" in clined. chute or plate 32' formed about mid- The surface of said chute is formed with a plurality of shallow channels or scollops 34 and is divided by main vertical pin'ti-tions- 35 an d subdivisional partitions 36. Above the chute are three 1 rock shafts 37, 38, 39, controlled respectively by arms 166, 162,158, operated by cams 169, 170, 171 to which rock shafts are respectively fixed shutters 40, 41, 42-, made preterab'ly of spring plate metals Shutter 40 is formed at the lower end with fingers 43 and shutter 41 with corrugations 1 85 in its edge, corresponding respectively with the partitions and channels of the chute. Near the upper end of the chute is a fixed deflector plate 44 above the partitions which directs downwardly the matches ejected from belt 31 The widthsv of the channels preferably taper as in Figures 3 and 4, towardstheir lower ends and may vary in width to allow more than one match to travel down same in parallel: and the number of the channels and the rate of speed of the conveyor C is detern 'ned by the number of matches to be en I lied to each box during its travel across the front of the chute, the usual: number of matches for each box being 60.

The matches after being deflected by plate 44 come to rest against shutter 40' which when it hits allows the matches to slide" down against shutter 41', the step permitting a; rearmost match to -slide ova an ad- Vance match and: thus avoid the matches abutting at their ends which is one of the causes for anirregular number of matches being supplied to the boxes. When shutter 41 lifts, the matches slide into inclined surface grooves 45 Figures 14, and 14, formed in a base 45, extending partly across the con veyor with the heads of the matches against shutter 42 which is bent as illustrated in Figure 14. At this time a series of inclined recin'ocatin lunvers 4t} corresoondlin to b b 1. b

grooves 45, formed. near the end of an inclined plate 47, formed at the end of theunderside with a recess 49' and mounted on u'ertically disposed: rocking arms 48 controlled by cams 165 are in retracted position. Shutter 42 then lifts andyplungers 46, ad vance and deliver the matches in: the grooves 45, into the inners 21 of the box, a hood 50 preventing the matches being thrown out of the inners.

The next operation the closing oil the inners 21 into the outers 20 of the boxes and this operation is preferably performed in two steps. According to the first step the inner-s are pushed into the outers about seven eighths of the tull movement as in Figures 5, 6 and 15- and 16, by means ot a series otreciprocating plunger-s 51 on a slide 52 in a guide 58 the slide being connected to a vertically disposed oscillating arm 54 operated by cam race 174.

The heads 55 of the plungers are formed at the top with an overhanging ledge 186 that pushes any protruding match heads downintothe innerszl. Prior to the opera tion of the plunger's 51 and during the first portion of their forward strokes hold-down fingers 56, Figures 5, 6 and 15, descend intothe inners adjacent their inner ends and bear upon the butt ends of the matches. The lingers 56 may be cut in the bent end of a plate 57 fixed to a rock shaft 58 and on arm 172 controlled by cam 173.

The second step and final box closing operation is performed by a series of plungers 59 with fiat vertical heads 60, Figures 7, 8 and 17 said plungers being formed on a slide 61 working, in aguide 62 and connected to a vertically disposed oscillating arm 63-, operated by cam 17 5.

The: filled and closed boxes B in the pockets 17 are advanced by the conveyor C in front of a series of. ejectors 64 having down turned heads 65 and connected by hinges 66 to a slide 67 working in a guide 68, said slide being reciprocated by a vertically disposed oscillating arm 69,. Figu-res'T, 8* and 1:8,. controlled by cam race 176; The ejectors 641 have upwardly extending lugs 70 connected toa horizontal rod 71 having at one end a roller 72 engaging a horizontal channel. section. bar 73 provided with an olll set pin 74 resting: on an arnr '25- raised and: lowered by a vertically reciprocated arm 76,-.controlled by cam 117,.Figure 8.

By means of this mechanism the ejectors are raised on their hinges 66-, on their rear ward movement, to pass freely over the boxesin the'conveyor which haveto be next ejected from the latter.

In the case where matches may have become deposited into pockets without boxes,- the arm 76 can be held in raised position by means of a hand manipulated s-l. l e '77 work ing in a: guide 78 and provided with a handle- 79', said slide having an upturned support- 80 that can be slid under a lateral projection 81. on arn r75 and sokeep the ejectors raised whileidly reciprocating.

The ejected boxes, three at a time are received at a lower level against a stop 1287, on a table 82 and are advanced? parallel. and

CAL

preferably in opposite dirertion. to the conveyor C by a plunger 83 connected by a link 84, Figures 7 and S, to a lever 85 which latter is connected with a vertically disposed oscillating arm 86. and operated by a reciprocating bar 148 referred to hereinafter. lVhen a row of twelve boxes are on the table 82 with the leading box bearing against a flange 87 Fig. 15 on said table the row is advanced the length of a box by a reciprocating pusher 88. The latter as in Figures 7, S and 19, consists of a horizontal bar and is mounted on two projections 130 on a bent arm 89 mounted on pivot 131 and controlled by a spring 90 and carrying a rotary disc 91 provided with offsetrollers 92, 92. with a block 93 between two of same. The constantly rotating main or cam shaft 145 is provided with an arm carrying a roller 96 that successively engages the rollers 92 and at each contact turns the disc 91 a quarter revolution. A spring 97 on the arm 99 bears against one of the rollers and prevents the disc rotating more than one quarter of a revolution i. e. 90 degrees.

Vhen the roller 96 strikes roller 92, it slides along block 93 thus pressing the disc 91 forward and consequently the arm 89 which advances the pusher 88.

In order to indicate the number of boxes that should be in the row adjacent the con veyor an indicator is employed. This consists of an intermittingly rotated disc 98 having lateral pins 99 engaged successively by a pawl 100 suitably mounted on a boss 103 on bar 73 and controlled by a spring 101, said disc having ratchet teeth 102 engaged by a retaining spring pawl 104 that prevents rearward movement of the disc. The latter moves a quarter revolution at each movement and its surface is graduated 3, 6, 9 and 12, and to indicate the number of boxes that should be in the row being formed. If the row is short of the regular number the operator adds the required number of boxes from a supply kept at hand.

When the row of boxes is complete, pusher 88 advances same over a step 105 formed on the table 82 to prevent backward movement of the row and the boxes in the advanced row are yieldingly held on the table by flat springs 106 projecting from a cross bar 107 on the main table '1.

Adjacent the discharge end of the table 82 is a vertically disposed endless conveyor 108 comprising two chains set slightly on an incline and passed over sprockets 109, 110 and provided with transverse angle iron supports 111 upon which are placed removable trays 112 that bear at one side against a fixed guide 113. A ratchet wheel 114 on the shaft 115 of sprockets 109 is operated by a pawl 116 on a rod 117 operated by a cam 17 9 and having an offset arm. 188 tub crumed on shaft 115. After the fourth movement of the ratchet wheel, the tray has descended a distance equal to the depth of the row of advanced boxes which are pushed upon the tray, the succeeding rows being superposed. When the tray is filled it is removed by hand and another placed on the next one of the supports 111, a back rest 118 being provided for the tray to bear against till it has descended a portion of its full movement.

The invention is not restricted in its scope as regards the mechanical means employed to operate the moving parts. As illustrated a prime motion shaft 140 which is preferably an existing shaft on the match setting and dipping machine is provided with differed tial pinions 141, 142 gearing respectively with gear wheels 143, 144 on the main cam shaft- 145 of the machine, said shaft having a slidable double faced clutch 146 for varying the speed of the machine.

011 the cam shaft 145 is a master can] 147 engaging a roller on a bar 148 (see Figure 4) parallel to said shaft 145 and connected to arms 27 and 86.

The fork 25 on arm 26, Figure 2, has a roller 151 engaging a channel section bar 152 and vertical rod 153 having a roller 154 operated by cam 156.

I claim:

1. In match box filling machines having an intermittingly moved endless conveyor formed of links each with pockets for the box and the inner thereof and having plungers for pushing the inners into the pockets therefor, the sides of the pockets for the inners being formed at the inner ends with tapered notches adapted to receive and compress the lower corners of the inners when the latter are moved into the links.

2. In match box filling machines having an intermittingly moved endless conveyor formed of links each with pockets for the box and the inner thereof and having plungers for pushing the inners into the pockets therefor, the pocket for the inner being formed at the bottom with inclined ledges to support the inners and on the sides with overhanging ledges correspondingly inclined, said inclined and overhanging ledges co-operating to automatically tilt the inners during their movement into the links whereby the upper edges of the inners are withdrawn from the corres mnding upper edges of the outcrs.

3. In match box filling machines having an intermittingly moved endless conveyor formed of links each with pockets for the box and the inner thereof, the pocket for the inner being formed at the bottom on each side with inclined ledges and above same with correspondingly inclined overhanging ledges, and at the sides at the inner end with tapered grooves.

4. In match boa: filling machines having an intermittingly moved endless conveyor formed of links with pockets for the box and the inner thereof, the sides of the pocket for the inner being inclined inwardly at the top and formed with overhanging inclined ledges and the bottom of the pocket formed with corresponding inclined ledges between a central bottom recess extending transversely across the pockets, said inn-er pocket being formed in the sides at the inner end with tapered grooves and said box pocket with a flared mouth.

ln match box filling machines having an intermittingly moved endless conveyor formed of links with pockets for the box and the inner thereof, the provision of reciproosting fingers bevelled at the ends and dapted interinittingly to enter transverse recesses'lormed in the bottom of the pockets.

6. In match box filling machines having an intermitt'ingly moved endless conveyor termed of links with pockets for the box and the inner thereof, means to feed a plurality of boxes sin'iultaneously into the pockets of the conveyor comprising an endless intermittingly operated belt, with fixed longitudinal partitions above, a hold-down roller above the belt, a fixed plate at the end of the belt and an intermittingly recip rocated feeder below the level oi said plate for translt'erring the boxes to the pockets of the conveyor.

7. ln match box filling machines having an intermittingly moved endless conveyor tor-med of links with pockets for the box and the inner thereof, a box feeding belt, a fixed plate at the end thereof, an intermittingly rcciprocated horizontal feeder below the level of the plate "formed with a series oi steps having rearwardly inclined treads, a series of spring fingers bearing on the boxes and a base overlying the conveyor and below the level of the feeder.

8. In match box filling machines having an intermittingly moved endless conveyor formed of links with pockets for the box and the inner thereof, an inclined match delivery chute located between the be t of the match setting and dipping machine and the conveyor and formed with channels and means to cause the matches to pass down the chute by a series of interrupted movements into the withdrawn inners of the box.

9. In match box filling machines having an intermittingly moved endless conveyor formed of links each with pockets for the box and the inner thereof, an inclined match delivery chute, between the match supply belt of the match setting and dipping machine and the conveyor, formed with a step and with channels tapered and variable in width and separated in sets by partitions and means to interrupt the passage of the matches down the chute into the inner-s or" the box.

10. In match box filling machines having an intermittingly moved endless conveyor formed of links each with pockets for the box and the inner thereof, an inclined match delivery chute between the match supply belt of the match setting and dipping machine and the conveyor, formed with channels separated into sets by partitions, a series of rock shafts above the chute each provided with a shutter oscillating at ditterent periods.

11. ln match box filling machines having an interinitt'ingly moved endless conveyor forn'ied of links each with pockets forthe box and the inner thereof, an inclined match delivery chute, between the match supply belt of the match setting and dipping inacnine and the conveyor, formed with channels separated in sets by partitions, a de flector plate above the chute, aseries of three rock shafts above said chute oscillated at different periods and each provided with a shutter, the upper one formed with a series of spring fingers and the middle one with a corrugated edge, an inclined base overlying the conveyor formed With inclined surface grooves and reciprocating plate formed with plun 'ers engaging said grooves and with an end recess on the underside.

In match box filling machines having an intermittingly moved endless conveyor formed or links each with pockets for the box and the inner thereof, a spring controlled cover plate for the boxes mounted on arms on a loosely mounted rod and bent upwardly at one end.

13. In match box filling machines having an intermittingly moved endless conveyor formed of links each with pockets for the box and the inner thereof, means to push the inners into the outers comprising a series of horizontally reciprocating plungers operating in conjunction with vertically reciprocating hold down fingers bearing on the matches.

14. In match box filling machines having an intermittingly moved endless conveyor formed of links each with pockets for the box and the inner thereof, two series of consecutively operating box closing horizontally reciprocating plungers, the first series formed with heads provided with overhanging ledges and adapted to perform-the major portion of the movement, the other series operating to finally push the inner into the box and a series of vertically reciprocating hold. down fingers bearing on the matches and operating in conjunction with the first series of plungers.

15. In match box filling machines having an intermittingly moved endless conveyor formed of links each with pockets for the box and the inner thereof, means to transfer the closed boxes from the conveyor to a table, comprising a series of ejectors formed with downwardly turned heads and hinged to a reciprocating slide, a horizontal rod connected to lugs projecting upwardly from the ejectors and provided with a roller engaging a horizontal vertically reciprocated channel section bar.

16. In mat-ch box filling machines having an intermittingly moved endless conveyor formed of links each with pockets for the box and the inner thereof, means to transfer the closed boxes from the conveyor to a table comprising a series of ejectors formed with downwardly turned heads and hinged to a reciprocating slide, a horizontal rod connected to lugs projecting upwardly from the ejectors and provided with a roller engaging a horizontal channel section bar provided with a pin resting on an arm raised and lowered by a vertically disposed reciprocating arm and a hand manipulated slide for supporting said channel sect-ion bar in raised position.

17. In match box filling machines having an intermittingly moved endless conveyor formed of links each with pockets for the box and the inner thereof, a table to receive the filled boxes formed with a step and located alongside the conveyor at a lower level, an end plunger for advancing the boxes across the table to form a row, an intermittingly reciprocating pusher for advancing the rows of boxes and springs bearing on the advanced row on the table.

18. In match box filling machines having an intermittingly moved endless conveyor formed of links each with pockets for the box and the inner thereof, a table formed with a step and located alongside the conveyor at a lower level, an end plunger for advancing the filled boxes across the table to form a row, an intermittingly reciprocating pusher for advancing the rows of boxes mounted on a spring controlled bent arm pivoted at the bottom end and carrying a spring checked rotary disc with offset rollers engaged consecutively by an arm on a rotary shaft, with a block between two of said roilers.

19. In match box filling machines having an intermittingly moved endless conveyor formed of links each with pockets for the box and the inner thereof, a table to receive the closed boxes formed with a step, a reciprocating pusher to advance the boxes in rows, a series of hold-down spring fingers bearing on the boxes of the advanced row, an inclined endless intermittingly moved conveyor at the discharge end of the table provided with supports to receive removable trays and a back rest for the tray.

20. In match box filling machines having an intermittingly moved endless conveyor formed of links each with pockets for the box and the inner thereof, a series of filled box reciprocating ejectors raised at the end of their strokes and subsequently lowered through the medium of a vertically reciprocating channel section bar, a table to receive the boxes and a box registering mechanism comprising a disc bearing graduations and having lateral pins engaged successively by a spring controlled pawl mounted on a boss on said channel section bar, said disc having ratchet teeth engaged by a retaining pawl.

Dated this 25th day of November, 1925.

' ANDREW FRANCIS NEY. 

